Key identifier



L. OBERFIELD KEY IDENTIFIER June 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.16, 1959 INVENTOR. LOUIS OBERFI ELD ATT'OPA/Z'Y June 20, 1961 QBERFIELD2,988,836

KEY IDENTIFIER Filed Feb. 16. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOUIS OBERFIELDATTOP/VEF INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,988,836 KEY IDENTIFIER Louis Oberfield, 8749 21stAve., Brooklyn 14, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 793,645

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-330) This invention relates to a new and usefuldevelopment in a key identifier. I p

More particularly, the present invention relates to a key identifier inthe nature of an attachment for a cylinder lock type key now in generaluse. The attachment serves for quickly identifying in the dark a neededkey on the 'key ring or other key holder, by means of long, narrowraised strips attached across both sides of the handle of a key.

Still further, the present invention proposes the construction of a keyidentifier including a strip portion positioned diagonally across andadjacent one side of the handle of the key and another strip portionposilongitudinally extending ridges disposed at both sides of the key toidentify the key.

Still another object of my present invention is the provision of a novelmeans for removably supporting an identifier attachment upon the handleof a key so that the attachment; may be removed from the key whendesired.

It is a further object of my present invention to'construct a keyidentifier which is simple and durable, which can be manufactured andsold at reasonable cost and which can be quickly and easily mounted uponthe cylinder lock type key without the use of tools.

For further comprehension of this invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings and to the'appende'd claims in which thevarious novel features of this invention are more particularly setforth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an oblique side view of a key for a cylinder type lockprovided with an attached key identifier constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique opposite side view of the key and identifier ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a different sized key showing a key identifieron the handle.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary oblique opposite side view of the key handle andidentifier of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan edgewise view of the key and identifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which a key identifier is formed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another blank for forming a key identifier.

FIG. 8 is an oblique side view of a key identifier partially formed fromthe blank of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an oblique side view of a key identifier in a further state offormation from that shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an oblique end view of the partially formed key identifier ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10A is a rear oblique view of the partially formed key identifierof FIGS. 8 and 10 disposed on a handle of a key.

FIG. 11 is a side oblique view of a key identifier in a further state offormation from that shown in FIG. 9, corresponding in shape to the keyidentifier on the key of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side oblique view of another key identifier partiallyformed from the blank of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a side oblique view of a key identifier Patented June 20,1961 1 similar to that of FIG. 11, shaped to fit a larger key lleferringto FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a key 16 for a cylinder type lock. Thekey has a flat handle '17 with two' sides 18 and 19, and an integralshank 20 coplanar therewith. The handle 17 is formed with a round hole21 for a key ring. The hole has an annular inner wall 22. The handle isformed at opposite edges with opposed notches or identations 23, 24 andadjacent shoulders 23 and 24 located between the handle and shank.

A key identifier 15 is shown mounted on the key and formed of a singleblank piece of pliable material M shown in flat unfolded form in FIG. 6.The key identifier, 15 includes a narrow lateral strip portion 25positioned adjacent side 18 of the key. The strip portion 25 extendsdiagonally across side 18 between the notch V 23 and hole 21. Toreleasably retain the strip portion 25 in position upon the adjacentside 18, there is provided a rear end extension 26. The extension 26 isbent at 27 at its free end to provide an extremity 29 'ofiset slightlyfrom the plane of the extension to facilitate insertion of the extension26 into the hole 21; see FIGS.

-' 8 and 10A. The extension 26 can be bent as indicated 26' and aforward section 30 of the strip portion. The

ridge 13 is pressed or formed outwardly on the. strip portion 25. Theend of the hook 39 defines a flat finger 29 which is disposed along theside 19 of the key in a direction toward shank 20 of the key. Theidentifier is bent at the end of section 30 to form a strip portion 31which engages in the notch 23 of the handle 17. The strip portion 31 isbent to form a transverse free end strip portion 32 which lies adjacentto side 19 of the key.

Strip portion 32 extends along side 19 of the key and is formed with ahook 40 at its end; see FIG. 11. The hook 40 has a flat bight 34 whichengages in the notch 24. The transverse strip portion 32 includes anarrow raised or ridged portion 33 which extends longitudinally alongthe strip portion between bent portion 31 and bight 34. The ridgedportion 33 is pressed or formed outwardly on the strip portion 32. Thehook 40 terminates in a long flat finger 35 which abuts side 18 of thekey in a transverse direction extending toward notch 23.

The fingers 29 and 35 can be adjusted by shortening to fit larger keysas shown at 29' and 35', respectively, While the strip portions 26 and32 are lengthened as shown at 26' and 32, respectively, for the keyidentifier 15 shown in FIG. 13. If the handle of the key is small, thefingers 29" and 35" will be longer while strip portions 26" and 32 willbe shorter, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for handle 17 of key 16 on whichidentifier 15 is mounted.

FIG. 14 shows an identifier 15 used for a key 50 without notches betweenits handle 17 and its shank 20 The identifier can be used similarly forall kinds of flat and plain keys. The identifier 15 is similar toidentifiers 15, 15 and 15 previously described except that the stripportion 25" is provided with semicircular tabs 36 and 37 which extendlaterally coplanar and intifier 15 is otherwise similar to identifiers15, '15? and 15 and like reference numerals identify like elements inthe several figures.

The keys for cylinder type locks are generally similar to each other inappearance as indicated at Kl-KS in FIG. 15. It is normally verydifficult to distinguish one from the other and to identify anyparticular key in'the 'dark. It is also normally difficult to identifyand distinguish the keys even in the light. Without theme ofthe'pre'sent invention, in order to identify a needed key on a key ringor other key holder in the dark, it is necessary to insert and try outall the keys in the slot of the lock in order to find the one key whichopens or closes the lock. With the present inventionattached to thehandle of a key such as shown by identifier 15 on key K5, the user canquickly feel with the tips of his fingers the ridged portions 13 and 33extending diagonally and transversely across the handle 17. The user canthus identify the needed key K on ring 52. In the dark, in all kinds ofweather, in rain, in sleet, with frozen fingers and even with gloves onhis hands, the user can quickly identify a needed key K5 on the keyring, regardless of the similarity in shape and appearance of the otherkeys on the key holder 52. In the light, the user can at a glance seethe identifier on the handle of the desired key in the group on theholder.

When there are a plurality such as live or more keys on a key ring orchain, as shown in FIG. 15, the key most frequently used, say forinstance, the house key, which for illustration purposes is indicatedK5, is provided with the identifier attachment.

'When keys amused by many persons, in the light only, such as in hotels,offices, etc., the keys canalso be quickly identified by having anidentifier with the tabs 36, 37 on each key. As shown in FIG. 14,letters and/or numbers 44 may be printed on the tab to indicate use ofthe key for house, safe, box, numbers, etc.

Tue identifier with the tabs 36, 37 can also be used for advertisingpurposes, by marking the tabs with the nameof product, manufacturer,slogan, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction therein described and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desirejtosecure by United States Letters Patent 1. In combination, a key having ashank and a flat handle with an arcuate edge and a hole therein, and akey identification attachment, said attachment including an elongatednarrow strip of self-form-maintaining manually-bendable material, saidstrip including two elongated portions oriented at a substantial angleto one another,'and a short twisted and slanted portion joining said twoelongated portions, one of said elongated portions having a short bendadjacent its free end extending through the hole in the key and havingthe tip thereof pressed into engagement with one side surface of thehandle, while the remainder of said one elongated portion is abuttedagainst the other side surface of the handle, said remainder of said oneelongated portion extending from said hole to a juncture of the handleand the shank, said short twisted and slanted portion engaging the keyat said juncture, said other elongated portion extending transverselyacross the key where the handle meets the shank and toward and aroundthe other juncture of the handle and shank.

2. A combination as set forth in claim '1 wherein the elongated portionsof the key identification attachment have elongated ridges projectingtherefrom in a direction away from the plane of the flat handle of thekey.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,173,752 Carrington Sept. 19, 1939 2,432,498 Bloomfield Dec. 16, 1947

